Courtesy of the Mid-American Conference
East Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Ohio WR Terrence McCrae
Senior wide receiver Terrence McCrae (Vanderbilt, Pa.) had four catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-23 loss at Marshall. McCrae’s first TD catch was a two-yarder and his second came on a Hail Mary in the back of the end zone from QB Boo Jackson on a 36-yard connection to pull within one on the final play of the game. McCrae added big plays including receptions for 46, 34 and 36 yards.
Defensive Player of the Week: Temple DB Jaiquawn Jarrett
Senior safety Jaiquawn Jarrett (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led Temple with 11 tackles in a 22-13 loss at No. 23/20 Penn State last Saturday. After four games, Jarrett leads the Owls with 28 tackles, including 16 solos. He also has a fumble recovery.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Ohio P Paul Hershey
Junior kicker Paul Hershey (Fremont, Ohio) averaged 38.7 yards per kick, including a 58-yarder on his first attempt. However, Hershey also added a six-yard rushing touchdown when he shocked Marshall as he scampered into the end zone from his position as holder on the Bobcats' successful fake field goal attempt. The play gave Ohio a 17-16 lead, an advantage it would take into the fourth quarter.
West Division
Offensive Player of the Week: Northern Illinois RB Chad Spann
Senior running back Chad Spann (Indianapolis, Ind.) rushed for 223 yards on 17 carries (14.9 avg.) to lead a powerful Huskie running attack in a 34-23 win at Minnesota. Spann scored on a 61-yard run in the fourth quarter to give NIU a 34-16 lead. He also had a run of 56 yards in the first quarter to set up the first touchdown, and added a 33-yard jaunt in the second quarter. Spann tallied the first 200-plus yard game by a Huskie running back since Garrett Wolfe ran for 203 vs. Central Michigan in 2006.
Defensive Player of the Week: Toledo LB Archie Donald
Senior linebacker Archie Donald (Pittsburgh, Pa.) led the Rockets with a season-high 16 tackles and added a game-clinching interception in a 31-20 win at Purdue. Donald clinched the game with an interception with 2:57 to play and returned it 51 yards to the Purdue 23-yard line.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Northern Illinois DB Jimmie Ward
Freshman defensive back Jimmie Ward (Mobile, Ala.) made a key play with a punt block at the end of the first half that resulted in a Huskie touchdown and a 20-13 halftime lead. With the Gophers punting from their own 29-yard line, Ward broke through a hole and blocked Dan Orseske’s punt cleanly. The Huskies earned possession on the Minnesota 11-yard line and scored three plays later. Ward pressured the punter on two other occasions and narrowly missed a block later in the game. He also contributed three solo tackles on special teams on the day with kickoff and punt coverage stops.